What rewards do we offer these peoples and Governments for their
sacrifice of everything, for loyalty to us and to our ideals ? To the Govern-
ment and people of Poland we offer the loss of two of their most historic
cities, Wilno and Lwow, and the sacrifice of one-third of their national
territory, if we insist upon the so-called Curzon Line as their Eastern
frontier . . .
In my experience, the Russians despise more than anything else weak-
ness and vagueness, and the one thing they admire more than anything
else is clarity and firmness. After all, the basis of true friendship, between
men and between nations, is mutual respect, and if Russia sees us not being
true to our other allies, how can she expect that we shall be true to her in
the future ? ... It is not fair on the Russians to give them the impression
that we have no clear policy in Europe. How can they shape their policy
to harmonise with ours, unless we make it very clear and very firm ? They
cannot believe, any more than this House can believe, that Britain, after
.standing up for freedom and civilisation against Germany, will now abdicate
in favour of European anarchy, and turn the other cheek to civil war between
her friends.
Of course, we must have friendship with Russia, but, as I said, for
friendship there must be mutual respect. It would be false friendship,
either for Russia or for Poland, to allow Russia to think that Europe,, and the
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